Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-15
1ales aud &ketfhes.
on THE BRINK.
By HARRIET A. CHEEvER.


have Champney, the swell new caterer.
tor this occasion. know his charges are
frightful, but then you are doing so well.
and this. after all, will be the first large
party we ever have given. Bowers Will
attend the floral decorations. and the
Mendelssohn orchestra will furnish such
delectable music! 1t will be Just spien-
did, know, and please can't have a
dress made at Crash's just this once 7"
A pair of lustrous brown ewes we're
raised with languid grace to John CHS
holm's face as the girlish. rambling
speech ended with its beseechlng query.
II was altogether bewitchng face which
John Chisholm gazed upon as his young
wife turned towards him. He had never
been able 10 resist the power OF her beauty,
never since he had first met her i've years
before-a sweet, dainty girl of IL years.
She had been his wife now for four
wears, and not one whit less charming had
She grown in his eyes since the dav he
brought her, lovely bride. TO their
handsome new house in the city. And to
the fond husbands mind there seemed
always to dwell ir the depth of his wlfe's
luminous eyes an expression recognized
only by himself An expression causing
a vague conviction that away down be-
meath the pleasing softness of their bright
CLEAN there was hidden an undercurrent
of power, of womanly strength, which
mi ght manifest itself upon occasion.
For any one unfortunate enough to nave
lost both parents while mere child,
Helen Chisholm mad yet been very
fortunate person. Rather an homogeneous
observation as first viewed. but true
enough when understood. For when the
little Helen had met her unrecognlzed
loss. an indulgent old grandfather had
taken her to his comfortable home, and
with motherlv housekeeper to pet and
care for her, the little girl then budded
into madenhood and bloSsomed into early
womanhood without having known
serious anxiety or being brought face to
face with any of the sterner lessons OF
lite.
Then John Chisholm had come to the
village one day. and although other ad'
mirers had tried without success to win
the favor of the beautiful girl, there was
that about this fine -looking gentleman
with his grave, kindly face and len years
of superior age. which had speedily at
trac Ell lnt HOWSI-ilho LIClCu' hh" oo
conquest had been easy enough for John
Chisholm where it had been impossible
for Younger and perhaps weather. lovers.
For MIR. Chisholm was not rich. although
on marrying he had found himself able to
provide cosy, inviting home he could
call his own, and wherein he happily eS-
tablshed fair young mistress whose
graceful person and winsome manners
soon rendered her great favorite in the
CAV vet refined circle into which her hus-
band had proudly introduced her. And
perhaps it was not strange that the latter
ing attentions lavlshed upon her should
have resulted in a desire to plunge deeply
into the fascinating and expensive pleas
ures of her new associates.
Two years after her marriage Mrs.
Chisholm's grandfather had died and the
little property lett was divided between
two surviving sons. But the salary re-
ceived from the moneyed cOrporationsot
which MIR. Chisholm was the trusted treas
urer, ought to have proved sufficient for
more than merely comfortable living.
Yes, the salary ought to have proved
ample income for a little family of two
persons or even three times that number,
but alas, for the exactions of fashionable
lite in the city.
Had any one ever limited TO John CHS
holm in his bachelor days, that even
mighty love for the woman that he might
call his wife could tempt him for mo-
ment beyond the bounds of strictest pru-
dence and integrity, he would have laugh
ed the unlikely idea to ScOrn. But little
bv little he had unwisely yielded
to his wiie's ambition to vie
with the customs and habits OF
those far better off than themselves, and
the snare was one so easily fallen into that
threatened ENHANCEMENT crept on with
swift though silent footsteps,
Nor were his wite's expensive proc
Invites The only troublesome ones in his
way. Before his marriage it had been a
matter OF pride with Mr.. Chisholm being
considered one of the most genial. open
handed members of the popular club to
which he belonged. Distinguished Wis
itors to the metropolis rarely failed to sit
at IA right royal banquet given in their
honor by this courtly company, and the
occasions were always remembered With
hearty satisfaction by their favored guests
How could he withdraw from the charmed
circlep
When John Chisholm first faced the
vexiug fact that the expenses of their
mode of living were exceeding his ability
to meet them readily. he resolved to have
talk with his wife and adjust matters on
firm, safe footing. But every tnlo he
was about to breach the trying subj cI il
seemed as if by some strange fatality The
unsuspectng little woman would ward of
his serious speech with some request 81
apparently reasonable that refusal would
have appeared vertable meanness, anG
then how could he dampen her light spirits
and begin denying the wishes it had beer
such delight to crafty! And again
wherein would lie either propriely o
Justice in advising retrenchment on hel
part, while still maintaining the role o
the generous. open handed member o,
the club, as the courtesies of the positio;
demanded ?
1t was true they never had given YER
large party at their house, but there hat
been repeated gatherings which in con
nection with those outside with the nee
essary accompaniment of dress, flower
and carriage hire. had drained the famil,
purse to an unwarrantably low state
And so it came to pass that at the Christ
mas season which was right upon them
there were several outlying bills with al
ugly showing of figures representing al
amount of Indebtedness considerable il
excess of John Chisholm's power to can
Gel.